Silke Ackermann is with the Baltic College in Schwerin, Germany, and was until recently the Curator of European and Islamic Scientific Instruments at the British Museum; she holds her degrees from the University of Frankfurt. Her research interests are the history of science of the Middle Ages and Renaissance and the Islamic World, scientific instruments (particularly astrolabes), and the transfer of knowledge. Dr. Ackermann is an AIA Webster Lecturer for 2012/2013.